Cover Image: The Medallion

The Medallion

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Whew, this one was intense! And yes, it most definitely will leave you with a book hangover! (Plus with a serious knot in your throat as you read, and a likelihood of using an entire box of kleenex.)

There are two storylines, as Gohlke tends to do often, and for quite some time it isn't clear how the two will intersect. What made it most intense for me was the child's story and how the book explores the meanings and heartaches of motherhood. I can't imagine having to face the idea of having to give up a child to try to give her a chance at life.

A truly heartbreaking and yet hopeful story. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Was this review helpful?

This was a hard book to read. It was a wonderful, thought provoking, incredibly sad yet tinged with hope book. I have never read a book that painted such a vivid picture of the starvation, torture, and resilience of the human spirit as this book. This is a book that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
I wanted to read this book because I wanted to know more about this time in history and the author did not disappoint. I felt as though I was living the war with the various characters, and then the aftermath of it also. I loved how she took us through the lives of several different people and how they all interconnected; the things people had to do in order to survive the war and then to consider – while physically they were still alive, would they ever truly be the same again?
If you have any questions about the history and brutality of the Nazi invasion, I encourage you to pick up this book. It’s one that you will never forget – I know I won’t.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit but was not under any obligation to write a review. All opinions are strictly mine.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my goodness!! I loved this book so much!!!! I really got caught up in this beautiful story line and didn't want this book to end. It left me missing these characters in the end.

Was this review helpful?

Gohlke does it again -- an interesting storyline, lots of historical details without overwhelming the reader, strong character development, and descriptive narrative, and faith elements that aren't preachy.

Was this review helpful?

I completely enjoyed this book. It depicts the hardships and the hard choices made by the survivors of the Holocaust. This book focuses on the Warsaw Ghetto and the lives that were risked to help children escape.

I also thought it was interesting that the author wrote about the Stuffhof Concentration Camp in Poland. When I was in Poland on a church missions trip, I visited that camp. So the place and the characters who were imprisoned in that camp held a special place for me

The book was very well written and flowed nicely. I admire Sophie and how she risked her life to protect Ania. The hardships that all the characters in the book faced was brought out really well.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book was provided by NetGalley and Tyndale Publishing in exchange for a review.

Was this review helpful?

“Remember the Red Sea . . . Adonai makes a way when there is no way. . . . . It is His specialty.”

I was woefully behind in reading this gorgeous novel by Cathy Gohlke, one of my favorite authors, because sometimes life just gets in the way of reading what you want to read. Then once I read it – a couple of months ago – I had to process it before I could possibly begin to review it. And now here I am, fingers to keyboard, still unsure how I can ever do justice to this beautiful story.

I’m not even going to go too much into the characters and the plot in The Medallion because these are better left for you, the reader, to discover on your own. They will be all the more meaningful to you if you meet each one naturally on the pages, as the story unfolds. Gohlke’s writing voice is pitch perfect, and she brings the people and places to life in vivid & emotion-tugging detail. She writes of a season in which the righteous laws we hold to so tightly (never do that. always do this.) blur a bit in the face of loving God with all we have and loving our neighbor as ourselves, reminiscent of the faith questions this rule follower (me) wrestled with while reading one of my fave non-fiction books, The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. It was a time when the worst of humanity met the best of humanity in a battle for the lives of people beloved by God.

Bottom Line: Based on true events, The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke spotlights a handful of characters that will grip your heart for months to come. People just like us who must make unimaginable decisions to survive, and people who step into that sacred space of rescue, sacrificing more than our safe, comfy modern lives can imagine to put others’ lives ahead of their own. Embracing the entire story is an underlying reminder that God is in the business of making a way where there is no way, that trusting Him when the next step is unclear is always better than trusting ourselves, and that there is no pit so deep that His love is not deeper still. Beautifully written with hope and grace despite the horror of the events it covers, The Medallion will keep you captivated until the very end. A great next read for fans of Pam Jenoff’s The Woman with the Blue Star and Melanie Dobson’s Hidden Among the Stars.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

Was this review helpful?

Very well-written and engrossing but so heartbreaking as this book is a composite of the atrocities of war committed on real people. The author skillfully brings the characters to life. They could have been members of your family, your friends, your neighbour!

For that reason, I do not enjoy war stories. Real people went through those horrific events. But I found Charlotte's story particularly compelling. At least there's some light amid all the nightmares.

Was this review helpful?

I'm always touched by Cathy's books not to mention that I always learn something new as she brings history to life. This thought provoking novel left me pondering for days to come.

Was this review helpful?

I was provided with an ARC of this title by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is an unforgettable story about a mother's desperation when the machines of war loom ominously and inescapably over ordinary lives. It is a story about moments bound together across the lives of strangers, and heart-breaking sacrifices.

When Rosa smuggles her daughter out of war-torn Poland, she sets events in motion that will haunt everyone involved for years to come.

This is a wonderful, soul-shattering, tear-bringing story set in Hitler's Europe. You will need a lot of tissues and a lot of caffeine - because you will stay up bawling your eyes out and finally finish it in the wee hours of the morning.

Was this review helpful?

What a book. I was not planning to write a review for our website, but just a short one for Amazon, when I started reading The Medallion. I started reading it, and didn't bother keeping track of anything that might need warnings—and a couple of days later realized that I had been sucked into the plot much more than with most books I read, and that it was a very good book. My dear daughter, who runs the website, said that, with the way I was having such a hard time putting the book down, I really should write a review for her. So, I finished the book and then skimmed through it a second time to find the warnings for her.
This book tells the stories of two couples, both of whom had been married one or two years when the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939. Janek was a pilot with the Polish air force; his English wife Sophie worked in the library in Warsaw. Itzhak and Rosa were Polish Jews living in Vilna, Lithuania. Janek was never able to come home after the invasion, and Sophia, after having her third miscarriage, had to change her name and move to a different home for her safety. Itzhak and Rosa soon moved to Warsaw to care for Rosa's mother, and then found themselves inside the ghetto.
As the war drags on and life becomes ever harder, Sophie began working in the Underground, helping where she could. At the same time, Itzhak and Rosa had to surrender their precious firstborn baby to Irena Sendler to save her life. Rosa sent half of the medallion Itzhak had given her on their wedding day with her baby. Would she ever see the little girl again? How many of them would even survive the war?
Cathy Gohlke has not whitewashed the war in this story. Some of the scenes she described were horrible—but true. She has shown the war the way it was for the common people caught in it, and how God protected some of them. I appreciated the theme that was woven throughout Sophie's part of the story. Like so many of us women do, she tried to be in control of her life and make things happen the way she wanted them. This led to deceit; she lied repeatedly to herself and others—and, predictably, that led to the breakdown of the relationships she most treasured. I really liked the advice her foster sister gave her.
If you like books that make you think, that pull you in so you can hardly think of other things—this is a book for you. While it mentioned some very horrible things, and did not end happily for everyone, I still liked this book. I can't really say enjoyed, because it shows how awful people can be to other people, but the love and care of some people to others who needed help and love shines through so brightly that I consider this to be a great book. I also appreicated a women's fiction book that was not a romance. Cathy Gohlke is an author I will be watching for.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
WARNING: Chapter 1 describes a bombing and shows the beginning stages of a miscarriage. Chapter 4 describes a man being shot by the Gestapo. Chapter 5 describes another man being shot. In Chapter 10 Rosa thinks about it being time for her monthly. Her mother talks about this infernal war. An allusion is made to marital intimacy. In Chapter 11 Sophie lies. Chapter 22 talks about an Aktion by the SS when many people were killed. Chapter 23 talks about another shooting, especially describing the deaths of two people Sophie had helped. Chapter 25 mentions more horrors. In Chapter 26 a guard is described who likes to shoot people, and the death of Rosa's mother is described. Chapter 27 tells what happened to an underground school when it was discovered. Chapter 29 shows the SS killing homeless children, and talks about the weapons the Underground had. Chapter 30 mentions a courier being shot in the street. Chapter 31 tells how whole families were killed. There is another allusion to marital intimacy in that chapter. In Chapter 32, people are executed. In Chapters 34 and 36, men are forced to dig up rotting bodies and bury them, and in Chapter 38 these men learn that they will be executed. In Chapter 35 mention is made of Underground workers carrying cyanide capsules. More shooting in Chapter 37. Chapter 41: as handsome a devil as ever. Someone is accused of rape in Chapter 50.

Was this review helpful?

A compellingly hope-filled heartbreaking story of two couples during WWII, and one child that links their lives inextricably.



Sophie is a British woman living in Poland and working in the library while her husband fights with his country. The war forces her to change her identity, as she is drawn into the events of wartorn Warsaw.



Young Jewish couple Rosa and Itzhak come to Warsaw to care for Rosa's mother, but find themselves trapped there as the birth of their long awaited firstborn draws nearer.



A poignant, heartbreaking read based on true events suffered by thousands in Poland during World War II, this story tells of two families, living mere miles apart in Warsaw as it is torn apart by the war. It also honors the brave men and women, Jew and Gentile who risked their lives to help others, like the courageous Irena Sendler.



In the beginning it took a while to get fully immersed into the book, as it bounces between Sophie, Rosa, and Itzhak. But once the threads slowly started to come together and the stakes were raised, I couldn't put this book down. Ms. Gohlke always writes stunningly real books, well researched, that also cut to the heart, and this one is no different, telling the heartbreaking realities that were faced by many in the Jewish Ghetto and work camps.



There were moments when it was hard to read, because of the reality of the atrocities that thousands of people faced at the hand of other human beings. Yet through it all there was hope, small and flickering, but hope nonetheless. I was inspired by so many of the characters and what they risked, and my heart went out ot both Sophie and Itzhak over the heartbreaking decisions that they faced. Highly recommend this poignant, emotional journey, based loosely on true stories, with characters that will capture your heart.



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

What I think you should know:
The Medallion is a haunting story that includes two fictionalized story about real heroes, Itzhak Dugin and Irene Sendler. Both were true heroes during World War II , author Cathy Gohlke wove their stories beautifully into the fictionalized story of Sophia Kumiega, a British Bride trapped in Warsaw, Poland when her Polish husband never returned home from a mission and Germany invaded.

How this book touched me:
I think is has been several years since I read a book about a country under Nazi control, however I know that this book is one that will stick with me for forever. My heart ached for the families, the children, for everyone who tried to help the Jewish people. As someone removed from the situation I have no way to comprehend how people could stand by while innocent people were killed. I want to somehow will everything into changing for the characters to have a happily ever after, but that was not the reality of the situation. The World looked away, People Died and we need to remember.

Who will love this book( Just to name a few):
If like Historical Fiction this is an amazing book, you might need a box or two of tissues and I wouldn’t recommend reading it on a break from something ( Like work ) but I highly recommend The Medallion.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I am not sure what words to use to describe this book: amazing, heart-wrenching, redemptive, horrific. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want to pick it up.

Cathy took the historical events of World War II especially the Ponary Forest and brought them to life in this historical fiction novel. I have read a few of Cathy's books and they have all been amazing and this one was no exception.

It's the kind of book that when I sit down to write a review about it, I really have no words to describe it. All I want to do is pick up the book, shove it in your hands and say, "Sit down and read this, NOW!!" That is high praise for a book.. I don't talk about what I'm reading a lot, but before I was even halfway through this book, I was recommending it to a friend.

Two families connected by one child. I don't want to say more because I don't want to give away the plot. The trauma and the horror that the Polish people went through during World War II is incomprehensible to me. I know the gist of the horror the Jews went through during the war, but this made it a little more real to me. Cathy didn't mince words and yet I didn't experience nightmares either after finishing the book. And that be because the book ended on a good note. I won't say it ended in a happily ever after and yet it ended with redemption. I would love to see a sequel to this book to find out how the ending truly played out.

I received this book from Tyndale via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I feel as if there are no words to use in this review. How can there be when a novel such as The Medallion renders a reader almost speechless? I wish I could just leave it at “Read this”. End of review.

Cathy Gohlke has a special gift with weaving history and fiction into reading material that is not only impactful, but beautiful. In The Medallion, that gift was tangible. Because of the time period the story was set in and the vivid descriptions the author painted, it was very hard for me to read this. But at the same time, I had to finish it… I had to keep on reading.

Each horror the characters were put through, every struggle and hope the characters experienced – It hit me straight in the heart. Again, there’s no way I can express in depth what this novel meant to me (which is why this review may seem all over the place!). Only that I’m so glad I read it.

Without question, The Medallion has a place on my list of the hardest books I’ve ever read. But it was worth reading every page!

Was this review helpful?

This book drew me in and kept me. Following the lives of these people through WWII and its aftermath left me wondering what choices I might have made. It's easy to point out someone else's weakness, but not so easy to spot our own. Rarely does fiction both leave you spellbound and yet pushing back, entranced and yet hoping for swift resolution. This fiction does.

Was this review helpful?

World War II was a horrible time in history yet there are numerous stories fiction and non-fiction written in that time period. I think it is because we enjoy reading about the kindness of people during a horrible time. We want to cheer on those who are fighting to survive. We applaud those who reach out to help. Even in a horrible time of history, there are stories of beauty, stories of love and sacrifice.

When I read that Cathy Gohlke was writing another book, I was excited. I was waiting and excited that I was able to review the book. Let me pause and say this if you have not read books that Cathy Gohlke has written, go get them. Get all of them. Then plan a weekend with coffee, a few snacks, and read the whole weekend. You will not regret it. So the other books are — Secrets She Kept, Saving Amelie, and Until we Find Home. — End of Commercial.

It took a little bit to get into the story as the characters are introduced. Sophie is British married to a Polish man who is away having joined the Polish Air Force. Then you meet Rosa and Itzhak who move to the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto. You know that somehow their lives will be connected.

I quickly fell in love with Sophie. I can’t even imagine what life would have been like for her at that time. Yet, she began to help and do what she could to help even though it is dangerous. Then one evening she opens the door and is handed a little girl. What will she do? How will she fight to keep the girl?

One of my favourite characters in the book is Rosa’s mother. You see the strength that she has and the wisdom. The sacrifice that she is willing to make for her family.

This is Christian fiction and so part of what makes it different is the values and the truths that you see. Sophie begins to act because of fear. As she is driven by fear, the question is what will happen, how will the lives around her be impacted because of that fear? Fear leads is dishonesty which leads to a lack of trust. What will bring this to light?

I enjoyed this book, it took a bit to get into the story. It was well-written exploring truths we all understand. I like the fact that it is based on events and individuals.

Was this review helpful?

The Medallion

by Cathy Gohlke

What is worse than being a Pole during World War II? Being a Jew.
And what is worse than either? Being a Polish Jew, a target for abuse, humiliation, torture and destruction.

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke tells the story of two families whose lives and deaths become joined through the horrors and hardships of life in Poland in World War II. Janet is a Polish fighter pilot married to Sophia, an English citizen, alone in Poland, but with a heart for Jewish children. Rosa has to make the most difficult decision possible to save her beloved daughter’s life. Her husband Itzhak, an electrician, endures the most horrific task assigned to any person by the Nazis, digging up mass graves with his bare hands. Can anything good possibly emerge from the desperation of this story?

Many of the characters in The Medallion are fictional, but are inspired by interviews and textual research. Some are found in history, including Irena Sandler who rescued 2,500 children and Dr. Janusz Korczak who ran an orphanage.

The tales of these two families are difficult to read but also inspiring. Towards the end of the book, when the war is over and all should be well, it isn’t. Sophia finds herself in a moral and personal crisis of faith that intimately affects the lives and futures of herself and those she loves most.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Tyndale House Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Historical Fiction

Notes: The end of this book also includes discussion questions, notes to the reader about the writing of this book, and historical notes.

Publication: June 4, 2019—Tyndale House Publishers

Memorable Lines:

“Adonai makes a way when there appears no way. It is His specialty. Remember the Red Sea.” The words of her old friend came back to her, just as they did so often when Sophie felt at her wits’ end.

The Germans wanted to make certain that Poles were equipped only to follow orders, mostly for menial labor. They espoused the belief that a thinking Pole was a dangerous Pole. Hence, Polish schools were closed and thousands upon thousands of children did not learn to read or write—unless they were taught in secret.

“We’re not meant to handle life alone, Sophie. It’s too hard, too unpredictable, too messy and big. There is One who is willing and ready to help, to travel with us, if we let Him.”

Was this review helpful?

In September 1939 in Warsaw, English librarian Sophia Kumiega waits for news from her husband, a Polish Air Force pilot. A Jewish couple, Rosa and Itzhak Dunovich, are excited, for Rosa is expecting their first child. Suddenly, the Luftwaffe starts dropping bombs. Sophia miraculously escapes from the burning library but miscarries. Soon German troops occupy the city, and wall off a part of Warsaw, forcing the Jewish residents to move there. The Nazis subject the Jewish population to untold atrocities and hardships. Grieving for her loss, Sophia helps the Żegota (an underground Catholic organization) to assist Jewish children, smuggling them out of the Ghetto. Rosa gives birth to a miracle baby girl, Ania. But when the Germans start transporting Jewish families to death camps, Rosa gives up Ania to the Żegota. Rosa, expecting to find Ania later, hangs half a piece of a medallion around Ania’s neck. Sophia looks after Ania as her own but wonders if she could ever part with her.

This is a thought-provoking novel of courage, survival, and unselfish assistance during the Holocaust. The unspeakable adversities faced by the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto are narrated powerfully. Cathy Gohlke notes that she has based the plot on some real characters, such as Irena Sendler of the Żegota who rescued nearly 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Also featured in the story is the discovery of an escape tunnel and mass grave in Lithuania’s Ponary Forest, and Itzhak Dugin’s account, who in the process of digging up the bodies identified his wife’s decayed body by the medallion around her neck. While this is a fictional account, it’s understandable that contrivances and coincidences used in the narrative are needed to piece together the events. However, the bringing up of a foster child with a new name and religion might make us wonder about its appropriateness. Recommended.

This review first appeared in the HNR Issue 89 (August 2019)

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I have to admit that this book got to me. I actually stayed up until 2:30am to finish it. I don't believe I had read a lot about WWII in Poland. Parts of this book were hard to read, can't even imagine what these people went through. I did shed a few tears while reading this book.
If you like to read about WWII then this book is for you.

Was this review helpful?

I love reading about this time period. It is inspiring to hear the stories (fiction and non-fiction) about the many people who fought to find and keep hope in these most trying of times. The Medallion follows two story line as individuals attempt to survive in increasingly dangerous circumstances. As the characters lives become intertwined the medallion from the title comes into play as a beautiful connection to the past and a symbol of love and sacrifice. This is a book that was read with tears as I grieved over goodbyes and dared to hope when threads of possibility were found. I highly recommend this one!

Was this review helpful?